Co-Parenting Communication Apps

When separated and divorced parents have a difficult time communicating about their children, there’s a smartphone app for that! There are actually several co-parenting apps, but the one we see most commonly utilized by parents is “Our Family Wizard” (others are “TalkingParents,” “AppClose,” and “2Houses,” among others). Using a co-parenting app usually only comes into play in a divorce if one or both parents are having a difficult time keeping the topic of conversations strictly limited to child-related issues. Utilizing a co-parenting app can eliminate or limit hostile back and forth with your co-parent. Divorce is an emotional and difficult road and conversations with your co-parent can be similarly emotional and difficult. A co-parenting app can help both parents effectively co-parent, and also includes many other useful features, which we discuss below.

Communication
By utilizing a co-parenting app, all communications between the parents will be in writing and preserved with a date and timestamp, so no one can say something rude or inappropriate and then delete or edit it. Our Family Wizard messages are preserved if needed to refer back to later, or if needed for a court proceeding. A co-parenting app is a much more streamlined method of communication compared to text messages or emails.  

Calendar
Our Family Wizard and other co-parenting apps also have a calendar feature to see the children’s schedules, the parenting time schedule, and holiday schedule(s) at a glance. Co-parents are constantly juggling the parents’ work and travel schedules, the children’s extracurricular activity schedules, doctor’s appointments, therapy appointments, and the day-to-day activities that raising kids requires. A co-parenting app calendar allows for all child-related events to be recorded in one place, which eliminates unnecessary communication with a co-parent.

Child-Related Expense Reconciliation
Most co-parenting apps also provide a way for the parents to reconcile child-related expenses by uploading receipts and breaking down on a pro rata basis how much each parent owes for child-related expenses. By dealing with joint expenses online, you can avoid the uncomfortable conversations about what each parent owes the other. You can also avoid math mistakes when dividing up the bills, since the app does the math for you.

Child-Related Document Portal
Another wonderful feature of most of these co-parenting apps is that you can upload important documents related to the children to the secure portal, so no one has to maintain their own paper copies or hound the other parent for originals. Insurance cards, copies of passports, school information, and more can be saved in the information portal for easy access by both parents.

​If communication with your co-parent is going haywire, reach out to us to schedule a consultation. We can advise you on your best next steps to streamline your communications with your co-parent in order to cultivate a more peaceful co-parenting relationship.      

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